Lanyard use suspended in Alberta schools after near-fatal accident

CALGARY – Lanyard use has been halted in schools provincewide pending investigation following the near death of a student at Bearspaw School.

The Grade 3 student was in critical condition Friday at the Alberta Children’s Hospital after being found unconscious with a lanyard around his neck, stuck in the door of a washroom cubicle earlier this week.

Education Minister Jeff Johnson said every school board in Alberta has now been ordered to follow Rocky View Schools’ lead by suspending the single-strand cords.

“We need to be vigilant to make sure our schools are as safe as they possibly can,” Johnson said Friday after a previously arranged meeting with school board trustees.

The boy was discovered unconscious by a student, about four minutes after signing out to use the washroom at the K-8 school north of Calgary.

The boy is still alive because of the quick actions of a teacher who performed first aid. The teacher was informed and, as a St. John first-aid instructor, began CPR to revive the boy. Foul play has been ruled out.

“This appears at this time to be a tragic, tragic accident,” said RCMP spokesman Cpl. Darrin Turnbull.

Rocky View Schools superintendent Greg Bass said he doesn’t know how the child was injured.

“Our entire organization is very shocked and almost in a state of disbelief. Our thoughts and prayers are with the student and the family at this time,” Bass said.

The child is in intensive care at hospital. A crisis response team has been brought in to the school to help students, staff and parents. With files from Trevor Howell Calgary Herald